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Painted Rock Petroglyph Site

Arizona - Southern
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“Few places echo with as much historical resonance as the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site. For me, that beckoning amplifies with each visit. Although this low outcrop is a bit off the beaten path, it hosts one of North America’s densest concentrations of petroglyphs. Most of these were authored by ancestors of today’s Piipaash, O’odham, and Yavapai communities. Thousands of people come here each year to experience the past in ways that defy description—and you should come, too.

Currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management, the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is an important place in the future Great Bend of the Gila National Monument.”

—Aaron Wright

What will I see?

The Painted Rock Petroglyph Site and Campground is located approximately 90 miles southwest of Phoenix, Arizona. Visitors can see thousands of petroglyphs covering nearly 600 boulders. (Please do not climb on the boulders!) Overnight camping is allowed at the adjacent campground.

What else is nearby?

  • Sears Point
  • The Gatlin site (by appointment with the City of Gila Bend)
  • Gila Bend Museum

 

Download a brochure here (opens as a PDF).
Download a printable visitor’s guide here (opens as a PDF).

Read recent reports about the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site:

  • Assessing the Stability and Sustainability of Rock Art Sites: Insight from Southwestern Arizona
  • A Site Condition Assessment of the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site, Southwestern Arizona  (opens as a PDF)

Banner image by Paul Vanderveen

Videos

What’s West of Phoenix: Patayan Archaeology ...

Why You Should Experience the Painted Rock Petrogl...

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Magazines

New Horizons for Southwestern Rock Art (ASW 30-2)

The Great Bend of the Gila (ASW 25-1)

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Details

see more pictures

Painted Rock Petroglyph Site

Get Directions
Not loading? Make sure location services are enabled on your device and browser.
Type of place:
Petroglyph site
Ownership:
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Telephone:
(602) 580-5500
Email:
BLM_AZ_PDOWEB@blm.gov
Website:
Painted Rock
Hours:
All day/night, annually
Guided tours:
No
Entrance fee:
Yes (seasonal)
Nearby heritage sites:
Casa Grande National Monument

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